Shloka 56
अध्याय ७४: अक्रोध–क्षमा–निवासनीति
Chapter 74: Non-anger, Forbearance, and the Ethics of Residence
(ममाण्डानीति वर्धन्ते कोकिलानपि वायसा: । किं पुनस्त्वं न मन्येथा: सर्वज्ञ: पुत्रमीदूशम् ।। मलयाच्चन्दनं जातमतिशीतं वदन्ति वै । शिशोरालिड्ग्यमानस्य चन्दनादधिकं भवेत् ।।) 'ये मेरे अपने ही अण्डे हैं' ऐसा समझकर कौए कोयलके अण्डोंका भी पालन-पोषण करते हैं; फिर आप सर्वज्ञ होकर अपनेसे ही उत्पन्न हुए ऐसे सुयोग्य पुत्रका सम्मान क्यों नहीं करते? लोग मलयगिरिके चन्दनको अत्यन्त शीतल बताते हैं, परंतु गोदमें सटाये हुए शिशुका स्पर्श चन्दससे भी अधिक शीतल एवं सुखद होता है। न वाससां न रामाणां नापां स्पर्शस्तथाविध: । शिशोरालिड्ग्यमानस्य स्पर्श: सूनोर्यथा सुख:,“अपने शिशु पुत्रको हृदयसे लगा लेनेपर उसका स्पर्श जितना सुखदायक जान पड़ता है, वैसा सुखद स्पर्श न तो कोमल वस्त्रोंका है, न रमणीय सुन्दरियोंका है और न शीतल जलका ही है
duṣyanta uvāca |
“mamāṇḍānīti vardhante kokilān api vāyasāḥ | kiṃ punas tvaṃ na manyethāḥ sarvajñaḥ putram īdṛśam ||
malayāc candanaṃ jātam atiśītaṃ vadanti vai | śiśor āliṅgyamānasya candanād adhikaṃ bhavet ||
na vāsasāṃ na rāmāṇāṃ nāpāṃ sparśas tathāvidhaḥ | śiśor āliṅgyamānasya sparśaḥ sūnor yathā sukhaḥ ||”
Duṣyanta said: “Thinking, ‘These are my own eggs,’ even crows rear the eggs of cuckoos. How then would you—who know all—fail to acknowledge and honor such a worthy son, born from yourself? People say that sandalwood from the Malaya mountains is exceedingly cool; yet the touch of an infant held close in one’s arms is cooler and more soothing than sandalwood. Neither fine garments, nor beloved women, nor even cool water offers a touch like that: the embrace of one’s own little son is the most delightful of all.”
दुष्यन्त उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse argues for dharmic responsibility toward one’s own child: even animals nurture what they believe to be their offspring, so a wise person should not deny or neglect a worthy son. It also elevates parental affection as a uniquely pure and soothing joy, surpassing sensual comforts.
Duṣyanta is persuading the other party to accept and honor a child as his own. He uses vivid analogies—crows rearing cuckoo eggs and the famed coolness of Malaya sandalwood—to emphasize that embracing one’s infant son is the greatest comfort and that acknowledging one’s progeny is proper conduct.